Arizona State Fair Concerts: Idol, Priest, Dogg
By Brad Hamilton
Special for Modern Times Magazine
Oct. 12, 2011 — Many of the acts that will be appearing at the Arizona State Fair have not seen the top of the charts in several years, but the lineup for the 2011 concert series has some serious talent that will surely keep Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum thumping.
The best part might just be that all of these concerts are free with fair admission — as long as one doesn’t mind being kept off the floor. Fair admission is $10 for adults, and $5 for seniors and children over 5. Children younger than five are free.
Some of the top draws are sure to be Snoop Dogg on Oct. 20, Sublime With Rome on Nov. 3, Bret Michaels on Oct. 28, Judas Priest on Oct. 21, Billy Idol on Oct. 16, and Old School Jam featuring Stevie B., Tone Loc, Lisa Lisa, Debbie Deb, & Young MC on Nov. 4.
Reserved seating tickets are available for $15 to $20 depending on the show. For more information or to purchase reserved seating tickets, contact Ticketmaster or visit the Veterans Memorial Coliseum box office at 1326 W. McDowell Road Phoenix.
To see the complete list of shows and acts, visit the Arizona State Fair’s events webpage at http://azstatefair.com/events/events.aspx.
Country acts will also be represented, led by superstar Trace Adkins Oct. 15 and up-and-comers The Band Perry Oct. 19.
Valley-resident Bret Michaels will certainly draw his legions of new admirers. His 2010 appearance at the Arizona State Fair was a triumph of sorts as it was an apex after his health scares earlier in the year. Maybe Michaels will perform his cover of Sublime’s “What I Got,” off of his 2010 album Custom Built.
Or maybe Michaels will leave that to Sublime With Rome, the band featuring Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh of Sublime joined by front-man Rome Ramirez. The group mainly performs Bradley Nowell and Sublime songs, including “What I Got.” Ramirez, Gaugh and Wilson reformed Sublime in 2009 but after Nowell’s estate issued legal challenges, they changed their name to Sublime With Rome and released an album, Yours Truly in July.
Judas Priest will knock the house down Oct. 21 as Valley resident and lead singer celebrates his seventh year back with the band. Longtime guitarist K.K. Downing, however, retired earlier this year and this is the first tour without him since 1969.
Besides the great concerts and attractions, though, the fair will have all of the great activities that state residents have come to know and love including smaller stages featuring local acts, livestock shows, races, demolition derby, skill games and of course, rides.
In order to spread the elusive dollar, the Arizona State Fair offers a variety of deals and discounts.
Early-bird, online discounted tickets are available for $6 for adults and $3 for children and seniors until midnight Oct. 13. A full season pass, which covers all 18 days of the fair can be purchased by Oct. 23 for $18 for adults, $9 for children and seniors. On opening day, admission is just $1 until 5 p.m.
For more deals and discounts, visit the Arizona State Fair deals and discounts page.
Brad Hamilton is a freelance writer living in Tempe.
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